Driving and steering mechanism for motor-vehicles.



y W. H. DOUGLAS. DRIVING ANDv STEERING MEGHANISM POR MOTOR VEHICLES.

V APPLICATION FILED JUNE 21, 1910. l

i 1,011,591, Patented D.12,1911.

2 SHEETS-SHEETI.

i er 7,21 2/0 ATTORNEYS y W. H. \D0UGLAS. DRIVING AND STEERING MHANISM FOB. MOTOR VBHIGLES.

APPLIGATION FILED JUNE 21, 1910. 1,01 1,591 Patented De0.12,'1911.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2 ATTORNEYS j AUNTTED sTATEs PATENT oEErcE. l

WILLIAM HENRY DOUGLAS, OF BELLEVILLE, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR TO HEALEY C0., OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

DRIVING AND STEERING MECHANISM FOR MOTOR-VEHICLES.

Specication ofLetters Patent.

Patented Dee. 12, 1911.

Application filed June 21, 1910. Serial No. 568,142.

dent of Belleville, in the county of Essex4 and State of New Jersey, have invented a new and Improved Driving and Steering Mechanism for Motor-Vehicles, of which the tollowing 1s a full, clear, and exactI description.

The object of the invention is to provide a new and improved driving mechanism for automobiles and other motor vehicles, arranged in the plane ofthe wheel, to reduce twisting strains to a minimum, to insure easy running of the wheel,'and to render the driving connection between the driven axle and the wheel exceedingly simple and durable in construction.

For the purpose mentioned use is made of a driving axle, connected by a universal joint with the vehicle wheel, the center of the joint lying approximately in the plane of the wheel.

A practical embodimer1L of the. invention is represented in the accompanying draw-l tion of the axle A is providedjl with a fork A engaging a ball B, which is also engaged by a fork C, secured to or formed on the inner'side ot' a hub D', forming an integral part of the center -D2 of the vehicle wheel D, the said center D2 having a rim D3, carrying the'spokes D4, as indicated in Figs.

l and 2, the said hub D, rim D3 and spokes kD4 being arranged in a plane passing through the middleof the wheel, as will be readily understood by reference to- Fig.- 2. 'Ihe ball B lconnecting the fork A of the axle A with the fork @Tof the wheel D, forms a universal joint, the center of which is located in the plane of the wheel above referred to. On the outer side of the hub D is arranged a ball bearing E, inter osed between the said hub D and a swing nuckle F, provided at one side with an offset F, connected in the usual manner with the steering gear ot the vehicle, so as to permit the driver of the motor vehicle toy turn the knuckle F whenever it is desired to steer the vehicle to one side or the other.

The knuckle F is engaged at the top and bottom by trunnions G, projectin inwardly toward each other from arms having bolts G2 engaging a head G3, forming part ot a tubular siipporting'member G4, adapted to support the body of the vehicle in any approved manner. Between' the trunnions Gr and the knuckle F are interposed ball bearings H, closed' at the outer faces by caps G5, formed on the arms Gr, so as to ex-v clude all dust and other extraneous matter from the said ball bea-rings H.

By reference to Fig. 2, it will be noticed that the axes of the trunnions G are disposed in the plane of lthe Wheel previously mentioned, that is, the said axes pass through the center of the 'ball B of the universal joint, and `hence the several parts of the driving and steering mechanism are arranged in a central line of pressure, to reduce twisting strains to a minimum and to` insure easy running of the wheel.

The steering knuckle F is approximately ringshaped and made in sectionsbolted together as indicated in the drawings, and the inner face of the knuckle F is connected with one end of a Hexible tube I, attached at its other end to the head G3 of the supporting member G4, to exclude all dust and other extraneous matter from the ball bearing E and the universal joint arranged within the hub D of the vehicle wheel D. The tube I is mada-'of lexiblefmaterial, to flex on turning the steering wheel from a straight path.

By reference to Fig. 2,;it Will be seen that the outer face of the center D2 of the wheel is completely closed and consequently no dust'or 4other extraneous matter can pass to the b. Lbearings E and H from the outer tace of 1e wheel. By arranging the center D2 ot the :wheel in the manner dtscribed, the driving and steering mechanismiis practically contained within the said center, and the said ldri-ying mechanisn'l is rendered exceedingly simple and durable in construction, and access can be readily had to the parts for repairs and .other purposes. The ball B is provided with annular grooves, standing at right angles one to the other,

one ot the grooveel being engaged by the fork A und' the other by the fork C, so as to provide u. simple universal joint requiring no pivots, bolts or other deviceriior fastening the pints togetl'ier.

Having thus described my invention, I

vclaim new und desire to secure by Letters Patent l. A motor vehicle provided with u, drivinl.,v und Steering' wheel hnving u hub und :1 riln, u drivingaxle. :i universel joint connevtinif the drivingl uxle with the hub. n. steering' knuckle intermediate the hub :uid rim, the Suid steering' knuckle heini)r upproxinuitel)Y ring` shaped und 'formed in Heir tions, means 'tor securing the sections oit the knuckle together, the said sertions euch heving un n-nnuhrr inivzu'dlv extending' tlunge, upproxiniutclv et the center thereof, bull bearings) interposed between theeirid flanges of the Sections of the knuckll, und the outer side oil the hub, und u supporting member having :irme provided with tvrunnions en` greeting' said knuckle :it the top und bottom thereof.

2. A motor vehicle provided with :t driving :rnd steering wheel haringA a center' closed at the outer' tace und having an integral hub und an integral rim, an axle. fr univ'ersaljoint connecting the said axle with the said hub ut the inside thereof. a steering` knuckle intermediate the said hub and rim, :i bearing interposed between the said knuckle and the exterior of the said hub, n, supporting member having zr tube through which extends the Suid axle, u head nt the end ot the tube, :incl arms having bolts connectedivith the Suid head, the said arms being provided with pivots engaging the said knuckle, and bell bearings interposed betu'eenthe said pivote :1nd the seid knuckle.

3. A motor vehicle provided with zr driving and steering wheel having a center' closed at the outer face and having an integral hub and an integral rim, an axle, n. universal oint connecting the seid axle with the said hub at the inside thereof, :1 steering knuckle intermediate the said hub and rim, n, bearing interposed between the seid knuckle and the exterior of the Said hub, :L .supporting member having :1. tube through rshifh extends tflieseid inde, a. heed zit the end el' the tube, arms having bolts engaging the said heed, the sind urms being provided with piwts engaging the Suid knuckle, bull beur ing-.s interposed between the smid pivots und the .said knuckle, and cups on the. said minis verering' the seid baril bearings for the trunniens. l

Vl. A motor vehicle provided with e drivinel wheel having a hub, it driving axle, a. universal jointconnecting the said driving axle with the hub at the .inside thereof, a eteeringr knuckle surrounding the Seid hub, n bearing intermediate the said knuckle und the exterior oi the Wheel hub, a fixed sup porting member having a tube through which extends the Suid axle, the seid supporting 'i ember having e. head adjacent to one end of the tube, sind arms having bolts nt one end connected with seid head. the Suid urine being provided Vith pivots engagingr the said knuckle.I und :i Flexible tube connected :1t one end with the inner tace ot the knuckle und attached ut its other end to the end of the tube of Said supporting member. in testimony whereof have signed in v nume to this. specification in the presence ot two subscribing witnesses.

lViLLAvi HENRY DOUGLAS.

wWitnesses I Trino. G. HoSTER,

JonN P. DAvis. 

